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Sources: RPT-Iran explores oil sales to Japan; buyers want longer sanctions waivers
Iran has started talks with Japanese firms under a U.S. sanction waiver that allows?it resume oil sales. However, prospective buyers are?seeking longer waivers and reassurances regarding ship safety. The waiver was part of the 60-day talks between Washington and Tehran, and it expires on August 21. Two Iranian sources declined to identify themselves due to the sensitive nature of the matter. They said that three Japanese buyers are considering possible crude oil purchases in Iran. This would be their first purchase since 2019. A Western industry source with knowledge of the situation said that Japanese and Iranian officials were initially in talks about oil sales. Unknown to him was any such issue. An official from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which oversees the fuel supply infrastructure, confirmed that he had no knowledge of it. The U.S. Treasury and Japan's Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to comments. Japan, South Korea and European countries stopped purchasing Iranian oil after U.S. sanctions were tightened in 2018 following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement. China is Iran's largest buyer in recent times. HORMUZ RISKS A separate METI official said in June that any Japanese purchases would be the responsibility of private companies. However, it was not clear whether such deals could proceed due to shipping times and current contracts. Officials added that the safety of all tanker trips would have to be guaranteed. According to a senior Iranian official, any agreement would require that the U.S. extend its current waiver due to the time it takes for shipping between Japan and Iran. Officials added that cargos will be loaded on Iran's Kharg Island using?Japanese operated tankers. An Iranian senior oil ministry official said that Iran's national company NIOC has approached its traditional customers, including Japan, and asked them to resume purchasing if a deal is concluded and sanctions are lifted. The Iranian oil ministry has not responded to a?request for comment. It is far from certain that the Strait of Hormuz will be safe for ships to pass through once a permanent peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is signed. Last week, Iranian forces attacked a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The?elite Revolutionary Guards of Iran have stated that all transits of the strait must be cleared first with them. According to the U.N. shipping agency, there are an estimated 80 floating mines in the central part the waterway. A senior official with a major Japanese oil refining company said that securing insurance would be the greatest challenge. Trade sources and analysts said that the current temporary U.S. sanction waiver is unlikely to attract orders from Asian refiners with large inventories, which leaves independent Chinese refineries, as the primary buyer.
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EasyJet's journey from launch to takeover:
The announcement?on Sunday of a PS5,50 billion ($7.34billion) deal by U.S. investment company Castlelake to acquire British budget airline easyJet would be a new chapter for the carrier's 31-year history. Here's an overview of the?major milestones in?easyJet history: Stelios Ioannou, founder of the company, launches low-cost flights from London Luton Airport in Scotland to Glasgow and Edinburgh. 2002 Acquisition of rival Go Fly. Acquisition of rival GB Airways. 2011 - 2013 Modernising fleet with 135 Airbus aircraft. 2020 COVID-19? Forces 4,500 job reductions and fleet shrinkage. Rejects Wizz Air's takeover offer and raises $1.7 Billion from existing shareholders February - March 2020 EasyJet warns that fuel shortages and higher fares are caused by the Iran conflict. May 29, 2026 Castlelake, a Minneapolis-based aviation investment firm, has revealed that it is "considering" an offer to buy EasyJet. June 12, 2026 Castlelake?privately?submits a takeover proposal of PS5.60 per share. June 16, 2026 EasyJet rejects Castlelake’s bid June 17, 2026 Castlelake is back with a PS6.00 per share private bid. June 20, 2026 EasyJet's board rejects Castlelake’s second proposal. This prompts it to raise its private offer to PS6.25 per share. June 21, 2026 EasyJet's third proposal is rejected by Castlelake, which EasyJet calls "cheap". June 22, 2026 Castlelake makes its PS6.25 per share offer public and claims that the structure will satisfy EU?majority ownership regulations. June 23, 2026 Castlelake submits a private fourth offer of PS6.50 per share, easyJet revealed later. June 25, 2026 EasyJet has said that it rejected the bid, but is willing to share some internal data with Castlelake if they can get a better bid. The deadline is July 5. July 5, 2026 EasyJet, Castlelake and Castlelake announced a deal in principle for PS6.90 per share. This would value the airline at PS5.5 Billion on a fully-diluted basis. $1 = 0.7490 pounds (reporting by Neeshita B. and Nithyashree B. in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Bipasha D.; editing by Rashmi. Aich. and Cynthia Osterman.)
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Wall St Week Ahead: Investors watch for Fed clues and earnings signs, as tech wobbles
Investors will be looking for clues this week about the?likelihood of imminent interest-rate increases and the early signs of an important earnings season to gauge the strength of U.S. stocks'?rally. This week, the second half of the year 2026 began'much like the first half did' with the rocky performance of "heavyweight" technology shares affecting major indexes. The minutes of the Federal Reserve's last month's meeting as well as earnings reports from Delta Air Lines, PepsiCo and other companies could be new indicators for a market that has been shaky in recent weeks due to its tech-fueled rally. The market has seen gains over the last few months thanks to tech shares, and in particular semiconductors. The benchmark S&P 500 rose 14.9% during the second quarter, which ended on Tuesday. This was its best quarter since 2019. In recent months, this group has seen a dramatic swing, with steep drops to end the week. Over the last month, other sectors such as financial, industrial, and healthcare stocks have done well, giving investors hope of a healthy market rotation that will lead to broader gains. Joe Mazzola is the head trading and derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab. He said, "I'll be watching that over the next few weeks to see if or not this broadening continues." If you start to see a prolonged pullback of some technology winners, will that mean the market is going backwards? INVESTORS SEEK RATES CLUES FROM FED MINUTES. The outlook for interest rate?has changed from expectations of equity-friendly rates cuts at the beginning of the year to projections for hikes in the next months. These expectations of rate hikes were slightly reduced on Thursday after a less-than-expected job report. Following the Federal Reserve's meeting last month, which was led for the first time by Kevin Warsh as chairperson, hawkish bets were on the rise. He said the Fed would be focused on price stability and inflation that is above its 2% target. The minutes of that meeting are expected to be released on Wednesday. Warsh warned that the Fed would not be able to control the markets and had ceased providing any guidance as to what it might do in the short term. This could make the minutes of future Fed meetings more significant. Matthew Miskin is the co-chief investment strategy at Manulife John Hancock Investments. Investors and markets will be asking: what is the new Fed Chairman and the updated (Fed Policymaking Body) looking for in order to determine where rates are headed from here? Investors said that a key issue was how Fed policymakers viewed the inflationary impact energy prices. Energy prices had been declining since the spikes caused by the Iran war. The extent of the divisions among Fed officials is another important topic. Bonds can be more attractive to investors than stocks if interest rates rise. This is because higher interest rates increase borrowing costs for both consumers and businesses. LSEG data showed that Fed fund futures at the end of Thursday indicated roughly equal odds that?the Central Bank would raise rates before its September meeting. The Labor Department's data on Thursday showed that U.S. employment growth was slowed dramatically in June. This helped to calm some fears of a rate hike. "If the Fed becomes more restrictive and begins a tightening process, this is a risk for the market and valuations", said James Ragan. He is co-CIO at D.A. Davidson. "I think it's important to get more information about what the Fed is thinking." SEASONAL PIVOTAL EARNINGS The release of services and manufacturing activity could clarify the inflation trend in a week with relatively few economic data releases. In recent months, stocks have recovered from the declines caused by the U.S./Israeli conflict over Iran. The S&P 500 has risen more than 9% since 2026 while the Nasdaq Composite, which is heavily tech-oriented, has risen 11%. The market's rise was fueled by the surprising strength of first-quarter corporate earnings. This has raised the bar as the second-quarter report season heats up this month. Next week, two early reports will be released: Delta and the snack and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo. Both offer different perspectives regarding consumer spending trends. According to LSEG, IBES, the S&P 500 is expected to grow earnings in the second quarter by over 24%. Keith Lerner is the chief investment officer of Truist Advisory Services. He said that if the north star is earnings, then the most important thing to do for earnings season is to confirm the earnings trajectory this year, and ensure the upward momentum will continue into next year. (Reporting and editing by Michelle Price, David Gregorio and Lewis Krauskopf)
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As the far-right AfD aims for power, thousands of protesters in Germany are taking to the streets.
On Saturday, thousands of protesters blocked the roads leading to the annual conference of Germany's far right AfD in the eastern city?Erfurt. The party was re-electing the two leaders who had overseen the rise of the party as a national force. AfD’s two-day AfD conference was preceded by a large number of protesters, including unionists, civil societies and left-wing groups. AfD is Alternative for Germany. Protesters, surrounded by riot police wearing riot gear and seated in rows, blocked highways and roads that led to the convention center where the meeting was being held. Around 15,000 demonstrators were estimated by police to have taken part in the demonstrations around and within the eastern city. AfD re-elected Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla as party leaders. Under their leadership the AfD is now leading the national opinion polls over the conservatives of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Opening speeches ridiculed and lambasted protesters as antidemocratic. The opening speeches mocked and lambasted the protesters as anti-democratic. Weidel stated, "This is our last chance to save this country." "More people want to join us in our fight against Germany's declining, the?fight for fatherland and our identity." Minutes before the AfD convention began, the AfD social media stream played a song entitled "Send them Back" to highlight the party's hardline on immigration. Vintage-style cards with slogans like "YOU WILL BE DEPORTED" were sold inside the convention centre. Bjoern Höecke, a controversial and radical leader of the SPD, offered a mixture of nostalgia and invective. He even pointed to the state of Germany’s motorway restrooms as an indication of societal malaise. "A great Germany would be a country where you don't have to worry about taking an evening stroll through the park. "A great Germany is one where apartment keys are left on the door of the building," he said. Leading in the Polls The conference comes ?ahead of elections in the eastern states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern that the AfD hopes will help pave the way for success at national level, a prospect that has alarmed its opponents. "We simply will not tolerate this, that fascism in Germany is on the increase," Georg Becker said, a spokeswoman for Widersetzen (Resist), an umbrella anti-AfD group that was behind?the Erfurt demonstrations. The AfD was formed more than a decade ago. It has used a mixture of nationalist language, called for stricter immigration policies, and appealed to voters who are frustrated by successive governments, and years of economic stagnation. Weidel stated that criminals and illegal immigrants have no place in Germany anymore. "We will deport these people firmly, because Germany deserves better." The AfD is accused by its opponents of promoting "racist policies" and attitudes that are incompatible with Germany’s democratic values. They also claim it threatens the constitutional order of the country. The mainstream parties have refused to work together, as part of a "firewall" policy designed to keep the AfD out of coalition government. AfD leaders have denied?opposing Germany’s democratic foundations. Earlier this year, they won a court order?ordering that the domestic intelligence service suspend its previous classification as an "extremist" party. Recent polls show that AfD supporters are as high as 29 percent, compared to Merz's conservative CDU/CSU. The former communist east is where the strongest support for the party system comes from. Surveys show that voters are most disillusioned with it. (Writing and reporting by James Mackenzie, Matthias Williams and Susanne Neumayer Remter; editing by Mark Potter).
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Authorities say that a major drone attack on the St Petersburg oil terminal and port was carried out by Ukraine.
Authorities in St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city and the surrounding Leningrad area said on Saturday that a major Ukrainian drone strike overnight had hit a local oil pipeline and port. Alexander Beglov, the Governor of St Petersburg, said that the city with a population of 6,000,000 had been subjected to a "large scale" drone attack. The city's oil storage terminal was also hit. He stated that there were no injuries and the aftermath had been handled. Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region, said that drones struck the port of Vysotsk on the Gulf of Finland. The port is located about 170 kilometers (105 miles), northwest of St Petersburg. The port is used to handle oil, grain and coal, as well as liquefied gas. Drozdenko stated that 72 drones were shot down in the Leningrad area. Ukraine has intensified its strikes against Russian energy infrastructure this year, leading to fuel shortages across parts of Russia. St Petersburg is about 900km (560miles) from Ukrainian-held territory.?Kyiv drones have occasionally attacked St Petersburg. The city's oil-terminal and a moored ship were among the targets during the St?Petersburg International Economic Forum held in June. The governor of Pskov Region, south?of St Petersburg said that more than 30 'drones were shot down overnight. He reported minor injuries and damage, including to the factory in Velikiye-Luki. Reporting by. Felix Light is the author. Mark Potter (editing by Felix Light)
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Yemen's Houthis warn Saudi Arabia of their targets in response to Iran's flight to Sanaa
Yemen's Houthis claimed on Friday that their forces had engaged Saudi "warplanes", which they claimed 'attempted to stop an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport', according to the military spokesperson for the group Yahya Saarea. Sarea, an Iran-aligned group, warned they would "target Saudi airports and vital interest on land and sea" if Saudi Arabia continued to violate Yemeni airspace. He added that flights between Sanaa, Iran and Tehran would continue despite "possible consequences". Al Masirah TV, a Houthi-run channel, reported on Friday that an Iranian plane landed in Sanaa to fly the group's delegation to Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other passengers included more than 200 patients. Saudi Arabia led the military coalition which intervened in Yemen after the Iran-aligned Houthis took over the capital Sanaa in 2015. The Saudi-led coalition claimed early on Saturday that the Houthis' statements against the Kingdom were an attempt to "divert the attention" away from the group's "violations". It warned it would react firmly with "unprecedented force" against any attempts to attack the kingdom or violate Yemen's sovereignty. The Houthis demonstrated their missile and drone capabilities in Yemen's?war by attacking Saudi Arabia, targeting oil installations and critical infrastructure. Reporting by Eman Abohassira, Menna Alaa el-Din and Editing by Louise Heavens Philippa Fletcher David Gregorio
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Heatwave disrupts Fourth of Jule events in eastern US
The Fourth of July festivities were disrupted by a 'dangerous heatwave' that swept across large swathes of the central and eastern U.S. The Great American State Fair, which was a major event in President Donald Trump's celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, was also affected by the heat. The Great American State Fair was temporarily closed Friday afternoon as temperatures reached 101° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius). The organizers said that they expect the fair to reopen by?5 pm, with modifications such as cooling tents and spritzing stations. The emergence of the "heat dome," a system of high pressure that traps hot air over a large area, caused record-breaking temperatures to spread from the Midwest to the east of the U.S. earlier this week. More than 185 million people, or more than half of the U.S. population, were under heat alerts on Friday. National Weather Service reported that on Friday there were heat alerts for over 185 million people, more than half of the?U.S. In some parts of the nation, heat indexes can reach up to 115 F (46 C). Forecasters and government officials warned that this heat wave could be deadly. The government urged Americans to be hydrated and seek shade when attending public events and gatherings during the Fourth of Independence weekend. There were cancellations of events along the Eastern Seaboard during the Fourth of July weekend. This is when Americans usually 'gather to barbecues, parades, and fireworks displays in celebration of the 1776 Declaration?of?Independence. The Salute to Independence Parade in?Philadelphia was canceled due to extreme heat. The decision was made after temperatures reached 103 F in Philadelphia on Thursday. This tied a record set back in 1901. Heat-related disruptions were also felt in other parts of the region. Haddon Township in New Jersey canceled its annual Fourth of July parade. Watertown, upstate New York, cancelled its Independence Day concert. Boston officials have delayed the entrance to an annual riverside celebration of fireworks by four hours. The event was originally scheduled to begin at noon, but now it will start at 4 p.m. Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein, Washington; Nathan Layne, New York. Editing by Mark Porter and David Gregorio.
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Heatwave disrupts Fourth of Jule events in eastern US
The Fourth of July celebrations were ruined by a 'dangerous heatwave' that swept through much of central and eastern U.S. On Friday, the heat wave forced officials to cancel or postpone dozens parades, concerts, and fireworks displays in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America. The Great American State Fair, a centerpiece event of President Donald Trump's efforts to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America on the National Mall of Washington was temporarily closed on Friday afternoon due to temperatures of 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Organisers have said that it is expected to reopen, weather permitting, at?5 pm, with modifications such as cooling tents and misting station. The National Weather Service reported that record-breaking temperatures reached the east coast of the United States from the Midwest this week. Over 185 million people received heat alerts for Friday. In many areas, peak heat indexes could reach?up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Forecasters and government officials warned that the heat wave was potentially deadly. They urged Americans to celebrate the Fourth of July outdoors, stay hydrated and seek shade, and be on guard for signs of heat illness. At least seven states have reported event cancellations, including a "major Independence Day Parade" in Philadelphia, as well as "events" in Maryland's Takoma Park, and Loudoun County in Virginia. Ahmed Aboulenein reported from Washington, Nathan Layne from New York and Mark Porter edited the story.
As the conflict in the Gulf with Iran intensifies, private jets are emerging as an alternative means of escape.
Samuel Lait, who launched his pet-travel private flight firm in Dubai on Saturday, expected to receive inquiries from pet owners wanting to travel between the glitzy Gulf hub of Dubai and the United Kingdom.
PetX Jets is flooded with requests from passengers of all ages - from pregnant couples to young adults - who want to leave the United Arab Emirates. Conflict has engulfed the region, forcing many countries to shut down their airspace, leaving tens or thousands stranded. U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran entered the seventh day of its seven-day run on Friday. It threatens to escalate outside the Middle East and has led to a spike in private jet rental prices.
The original plan was to move pets and their owners primarily between the UK, and Dubai. Lait stated that the situation has changed dramatically since Saturday.
In recent years, private pet travel has become increasingly popular in Dubai. This is due to a influx of high-net-worth individuals into the Gulf business hub. These firms offer solutions for the problems posed by commercial flight, including pet size and breed limitations, as well as stress caused by cargo transport. The global pet travel market is expected to reach $4.6 billion in 2032. Asia-Pacific will see the most growth. Recent reports suggest that more than 40% middle-aged travellers and nearly 25% of seniors now take their pets on vacations.
Lait explained that although the company originally planned to launch its first charter service by June, it may now be able to do so sooner. The UAE's airports, which are among the busiest in the world, have been gradually resuming flight operations, but they still operate at only a fraction of their capacity. This has led many residents and tourists to look for alternative methods to leave the area, such as crossing into Oman or Saudi Arabia, and flying there.
"Since tensions have escalated in the Middle East, we've seen an increase in bookings... we get requests every 10 minutes, and every 20 minutes. "I mean, this request is extremely important right now," said Altay Kula. He's the CEO and founder at France-based Jet-VIP which operates in Middle East.
Kula stated that the current airspace closures are making it difficult for people to leave the Middle East and, in particular, Dubai and Qatar. Many people, therefore, are looking for flights to Riyadh or Muscat to "leave the Middle East".
While the opportunity exists, there are still challenges for both potential customers and operators.
Lait and Kula both said that prices of charter flights to Dubai have risen dramatically since the start of the conflict, making it difficult for some clients?to afford the trip.
Jet-VIP flights between Dubai and Istanbul cost an average of $50,000 for a jet that can carry six people, and $110,000 for larger aircraft capable of carrying up to 15 passengers. These fares are now $100,000 and $200,000.
"We were initially offered a lot of flights out of Oman. Lait complained about the high cost of aircraft use. "The prices were still astronomical," he said. Lait said that he was "trying to reason" with brokers and aircraft providers in order to get his company to begin operations.
Kula cited the lack of slots in Oman’s Muscat as well as in Riyadh, as a challenge.
He said that it could take up to 24 hours to get the authorization to fly to Oman and pick up passengers. The company is trying to operate out of Dubai but the airspace restrictions there make it difficult to find slots.
Lait's PetX Jets are currently in a wait-and-see phase.
Lait stated that "our aim is to try and hold on until the Dubai airspace opening and those aircraft become in line with the price we've seen leading up to the Saturday." Reporting by Abir al Ahmar and Federico Maccioni, Editing by Hugh Lawson
(source: Reuters)